I got into a long and deep discussion today on FB over a story on ABC News/GMA about girls not being allowed to wear strapless dresses to a middle school prom because they were deemed ‘too distracting’ by the principal of the school.  Click on the pic or link to read the story.

Strapless Dresses Too ‘Distracting’ for N.J. School Dance

Is this an example of a rape culture at work?

There were a lot of points of view, mine primarily being that what is needed is proper training for boys on how to respond to girls, no matter what they are wearing.  Limiting girls because boys might be distracted is placing the blame on the girl, just as when someone blames a rape victim because she wore too short a skirt or too dark of eyeshadow.  Not only is that not the reason behind rape, even if it were, the solution is to get the boys/men educated and trained about appropriate and moral behavior, not telling women they have to wear clothes that conceal.

That’s my initial take on it, what’s yours? 

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Drawing, quote and commentary by Marty Coleman

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“Training boys is wiser than limiting girls.”